Lee County launches mental health portal for students and families
The Lee County School District launched a new mental health and wellness portal to support students and families, especially during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Lori Brooks of the Lee County School District explained the reasoning behind this initiative.
"We realized that families may not always have needs during school hours, and as a service to the community, we wanted to build out a portal that students, parents, and the community at large could access 24/7, on a variety of mental health and wellness topics," said Brooks.
Valerie's House, a local organization, is part of the district's outreach program.
"It's important that we're able to share our expertise with the schools, and we've been able also to partner to do trainings for staff and counselors and their mental health teams, but also to provide schools, groups within the schools, and also to help those students and families who aren't lucky enough to make it to Valerie's House," said Amy Strom, a clinical social worker for Valerie's House.
According to the National Survey of Children's Health, one in five adolescents has a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.
Stephani Mares, a parent, shared her thoughts on the new portal.
"I have a daughter with ADHD, so she's diagnosed with a mental health disability, but in the end, it helps a child have access to resources. So I think that the school is involved in mental health; it's going to be beneficial to families and students," said Mares.
The district recently partnered with local organizations to ensure resources remain updated and accessible.
These partnerships aim to provide continuous support, even during the summer months when school is out.